Mehbooba meets Jaitley as RSS calls J-K talks ‘absolutely immoral’

The ongoing talks between the BJP and the PDP on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir have progressed with both sides indicating that the power-sharing deal would be sealed anytime soon.

indiaUpdated: Feb 19, 2015 07:11 IST

HT Correspondent Hindustan Times

Mehbooba-Mufti

The ongoing talks between the BJP and the PDP on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir have progressed with both sides indicating that the power-sharing deal would be sealed anytime soon.

On Wednesday, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti met finance minister Arun Jaitley at his residence. The meeting came in the backdrop of reports suggesting that the RSS had opposed any dilution in the BJP’s stand on the Article 370 that accords special status to J&K and AFSPA, issues that had caused a stalemate on government formation.

Calling the proposed alliance “absolutely immoral”, former RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya told reporters in Lucknow that the BJP should desist from any such short-term gains.

PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said in Jammu that both parties were trying to resolve the areas of divergence and difference so that a purposeful government was put in place. In another sign of thaw, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is in Mumbai, welcomed PM Narendra Modi’s statement on religious minorities, saying it will silence the “loose cannons” and send a right signal to the world.

Meanwhile, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is negotiating with the PDP, also left for Mumbai on Wednesday. As the deadlock persisted, the desperation to seal the deal was perceptible with political observers pointing out that Mufti’s recent media interactions were “obvious signs of nervousness” .